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TRIBUTE TO UKRAINIAN CRAFTSPEOPLE
Current events invite us once again to reflect on the impact of armed conflicts on cultural heritage. History bears witness to this, the consequences can be dramatic and erase the culture and identity of a territory in a short time.
Our last NEWSLETTER is a tribute to Ukrainian craftsmanship, that of yesterday and today, but it is above all a tribute to the craftspeople who continue, in dramatic circumstances, to practice and transmit their know-how. In textiles, ceramics, painting, traditional construction, jewelry and papier-mâché, these professionals merge their traditions with creativity, innovation, and respect for the environment.
We would like to thank Elizabeth Miroshnichenko, Secretary General of the Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine and Lesia Voroniuk (Lesia Voroniuk, culture curator, head of the NGO “World Vyshyvanka Day”. ) who opened the door to these Ukrainian workshops and without whom this tribute would not have been possible. We also thank Milena Chorna (Kyiv-Mohyla Andriy Meleshevych Institute) and Natalie Kononenko, (Ukrainian Ethnography University of Alberta) for their availability and valuable advice.
We were not able to cover all the subjects discussed together or present all the craftspeople due to communication difficulties. We hope to enrich this initiative in the coming months.
Anastasia Vasylchenko
Andrey Salivonchik
Andrij Paslavskyi
Liubov Rybenchuk
Mariia Kalyniuk
Oksana Levchenya (Konstantinovska)
Olena Fedosyuk
Olga Rovetska
Olha Pilyuhina
Serhii Horban
Yulya Yalanzhi
| In order to have an general overview on the richness of Ukrainian crafts and to discover how tradition can play with innovation, spirit of initiative and creativity we invite you to read two articles. The first presents the evolution of the traditional costume of Ukraine and tells how a costume of the past becomes a symbol for young generations (“The World Vyshyvanka Day”) as well as the mirror of diversity and a symbol of belonging “The Homestead Project ”). |
| The second, written by Elizabeth Miroshnichenko, starts with a historic overview on crafts development through different regions of Ukraine and slowly moves to present the nowadays modern scene of Ukrainian crafts, including opportunities, educational and entrepreneurial paths. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of crafts “in shaping a conscious and sustainable future. |
TRANSMISSION IS FUTURE
With the aim of bringing us closer together through art, in 2011 UNESCO proclaimed the last week of May as International Arts Education Week. This year the central theme is peace. The transmission of knowledge is essential to maintain the diversity and richness of cultures. It fosters social inclusion and tolerance, while at the same time helping to increase our skills in all kinds of fields, including crafts. Imagine how many crafts would have been lost into oblivion if it were not for the masters who pass on their legacy… For all these reasons, we have decided to pay tribute to all those artisans who keep tradition alive and encourage us to cultivate such important skills as creativity and respect for cultures. We have interviewed some of our crafts members. This is what they told us…
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” … Traditional craftsmanship is perhaps the most tangible manifestation of intangible cultural heritage. However, the 2003 Convention is mainly concerned with the skills and knowledge involved in craftsmanship rather than the craft products themselves. Rather than focusing on preserving craft objects, safeguarding attempts should instead concentrate on encouraging artisans to continue to produce craft and to pass their skills and knowledge onto others, particularly within their own communities…. ” ( Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage – UNESCO)
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